The Godly Man's Picture

2 What strangers are they to godliness,¹ who have no zeal for the glory of God? they can see his ordinances despised, his worship adulterated, yet their spirits are not at all stirred in them. How many are of a dull, lukewarm temper, zealous for their own secular interest, but have no zeal for the things of heaven; hot in their own cause, but cool in Gods. The Lord doth most abominate lukewarm professors, I had almost said, he is sick of them, Rev. 3. 15. I would thou wert cold or hot, (any thing but lukewarm) but because thou art neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth: A lukewarm Christian is but dough-baked, just like Ephraim, Hos. 7. 8. Ephraim is a cake not turned: To keep up a form of Religion without zeal, is to be like those bodies the Angels assumed, which moved, but had no life in them. I would ask these Tepid neutral professors this question, If Religion be not a good cause, why did they undertake it at first? if it be, why do they go so faintly about it? why have they no more holy ⟨p. 162⟩ardours of soul? these persons would fain go to heaven in a soft bed, but are loath to be carried thither in a fiery Chariot of zeal. Remember, God will be zealous against them, who are not zealous; he provides the fire of hell, for those that want the fire of zeal.

2 What strangers are they to godliness,¹ who have no zeal for the glory of God? they can see his ordinances despised, his worship adulterated, yet their spirits are not at all stirred in them. How many are of a dull, lukewarm temper, zealous for their own secular interest, but have no zeal for the things of heaven; hot in their own cause, but cool in Gods. The Lord doth most abominate lukewarm professours, I had almost said, hee is sick of them, Rev. 3. 15. I would thou wert cold or hot, (any thing but lukewarm) but because thou art neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth: A lukewarm Christian is but dough-baked, just like Ephraim,